A Simple Guide to Making an Autograph Book

Hello fellow Disers! There have been so many questions about making your own autograph books that I thought I would write up a simple guide. Please feel free to ask questions!

How to make a 5x7 Autograph Book (Spiral Bound):
Step 1: Browse the DISign threads to find autograph card styles that you like (see list below). Enlarge each image by clicking on it, then right click, choose save picture as, and save it to a folder on your computer.
Step 2: Open a new Word document. Set the margins to 1 on the top and bottom. Copy and paste each autograph card into the document, leaving one space between each card. You will be able to fit two cards per page if you invert the bottom image on each page (rotate 180 degrees). Right click on each picture after it is pasted and size it to 4x6.
Step 3: Print pages onto cardstock. 65 lb cardstock will do, but you can use 110 lb for sturdier pages.
Step 4: Cut each card out, leaving a 1 margin on the top of each card, and ½ margin on each side.
Step 5: Arrange your cards in alphabetical order (trust me, it will be easier to find the character you want when you are in a hurry), and place the covers over the front and back. Take them to have them bound at an office supply store (I took mine to FedEx/Kinkos). Be sure to tell them you want it bound at the top and not on the side. If you do not want to spiral bind your cards, you can always slip them into a photo album that you have decorated Disney style with stickers, etc. It makes a great way to carry them, and then you can scrapbook with them or have the ones that you had signed bound when you get back!

[Alternative method: If you dont want to use up all of that printer ink/toner, you can upload these images and have them printed out as photographs. I would recommend matte finish if it is available. Pick up your photos and then go on to Step 5. Photos can be spiral bound or placed in a photo album.]

How to make the Covers for your Autograph Book:
Step 1: Choose your design and have it personalized. Enlarge the image by clicking on it, then right click, choose save picture as, and save it to a folder on your computer. Copy and paste the image into a Word document. Right click on each picture after it is pasted and size it to 4x6. Print the image onto card stock.
Step 2: Cut each cover image out, leaving a 1 margin on the top of each card, and ½ margin on each side. For sturdier covers, glue onto a 5x7 piece of chipboard. If you are using chipboard, cover the underside with blank cardstock (add stickers or stamps to make it pretty) or a piece of Disney scrapbooking paper.
Step 3: Laminate your cover (with chipboard or without). I used clear Contact Paper (available at Walmart, etc.), but you could also have it laminated at any office supply store.

How to Make an Autograph Photobook:
Step 1: Browse the DISign threads to find autograph card styles that you like (see list below). Enlarge each image by clicking on it, then right click, choose save picture as, and save it to a folder on your computer.
Step 2: Upload your images to the digital photobook company of your choice. We have had good reports from people who have used Shutterfly, Artscow, Snapfish, and Walgreens.
Step 3: Design your photobook following the sites directions. There are always many options for page colors, fonts, and styles. Go ahead, unleash your creative side! Be sure to arrange your characters in alphabetical order in order to find them more easily when you spot a character.

A Few Final Thoughts:
1: Be sure to include a few generic pages at the end of your book in case you encounter any characters that are not included in your book.
2: I recommend using regular-sized retractable Sharpies. They come in many different colors, they will write on cardstock, photographs, and photobooks without smearing, and they can be easily handled by all of the characters (even the ones that wear gloves).
3: When you first go into the park pick up a park map that has the character greeting locations marked with an icon of a Mickey hand. This will tell you where and when the characters will be available so you can arrive early and be near the front of the line to avoid wait times. You can also ask where characters will be at Guest Relations at a Disney World park or resort (sometimes they can tell you where a character is meeting people that day).
4: Remember that these books are for PERSONAL USE ONLY. Making them and selling them on ebay, or even to friends and relatives, is a violation of Disney's copyright and trademark rights!

FOR AN UPDATED LIST OF CHARACTERS CURRENTLY IN THE PARKS - SEE POST #2

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Here is my current list of characters. It is based on who is appearing most often in the parks right now. The rest of the characters are considered "hit or miss", or "rare". I would suggest using this as a core grouping, and be sure to add in several generic pages in case you meet some for the rarer characters. I included a few others in my book that are my favorites. Good luck and have fun with your projects!

I did all of mine on white cardstock. I bought 110 lb cardstock at Walmart - it had 250 8x10 sheets for $5. The exact weight of the cardstock isn't as important as making sure that what you have is stiffer than regular paper so that the pages don't get bent or torn. Remember, this book is going to be thrown into your Disney bag and get hauled around for several days! You could probably use the colored cardstock you have, but you might want to run a test sheet or two to see if the colors of the design look all right. Lighter colors will probably work better than dark. Good luck!

I did all of mine on white cardstock. I bought 110 lb cardstock at Walmart - it had 250 8x10 sheets for $5. The exact weight of the cardstock isn't as important as making sure that what you have is stiffer than regular paper so that the pages don't get bent or torn. Remember, this book is going to be thrown into your Disney bag and get hauled around for several days! You could probably use the colored cardstock you have, but you might want to run a test sheet or two to see if the colors of the design look all right. Lighter colors will probably work better than dark. Good luck!

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I JUST bought this same pack of cardstock at Walmart this morning! I am getting ready to order my autograph prints on Walmart.com....and then pick them up in the am. I personally think the white paper looks better with the colored pics...I too was going to use colored cardstock but the white looked better.

Have fun with it! Post a picture after you're finished (I'm still trying to figure out how to post my pics on here, but I hope to get them up soon). If you don't want to bind your photograph images, several people here have used plain photo albums that they decorated up "Disney Style" to keep their images in.

Did you use a glue stick for putting the pics on or did you print out the pics directly on the cardstock?

How many pages are these books? Did you get the clear cover over top the first page?

I can't wait to go pick my pics up after I drop DS off at school and start working on them this morning!!

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I printed my images directly onto cardstock with my laser printer.

If you are having pictures printed you can either glue them onto 5x7 pieces of cardstock (leave extra space at the top for binding), or slide them into a 100 sleeve 5x7 photo album and decorate the cover.

My books ended up being 122 pages each, but that included 12 pages of generic designs, and 18 pages of character meals. I laminated the covers myself with clear contact paper, but if you have them bound they can put a clear sheet over the front cover instead if you ask them to.

Good luck with your books! Isn't this a fun project? My DS2 and DS5 are really excited about collecting autographs now!

Kinkos will bind it, but will NOT print it. Disney's IP (Intellectual Property) lawyers are very strict, and no business wants to violate copyright laws or infringe on Disney's trademarks. I used a color laser printer, but if you are worried about ink, you might want to look at these designs. http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r132/donatalie/2008 Autograph Book/
They use a lot less color and still look really cool!